Wanted Loaded pickguard for MIK Pro Tone Strat

[NewStrings]

Hey folks, I was thinking about changing the existing pickup's on my Made In Korea Pro Tone Squier and I'm open to hear what you might have. I really do have an open mind, I play a variety of music but mostly blues, classic rock and bit of rockabilly/twang stuff. My preference is for a loaded pickguard (parchment is the current color I believe) --- see pic below, but I am open to other ideas. I really don't need to replace the pickguard, it's just that I am a bit of a newbie here and I thought it would be easier for me (first time).

So tell me what you got, how much you want and I'll go from there. Thanks!

 

[Guitarmageddon]

Hey folks, I was thinking about changing the existing pickup's on my Made In Korea Pro Tone Squier and I'm open to hear what you might have. I really do have an open mind, I play a variety of music but mostly blues, classic rock and bit of rockabilly/twang stuff. My preference is for a loaded pickguard (parchment is the current color I believe) --- see pic below, but I am open to other ideas. I really don't need to replace the pickguard, it's just that I am a bit of a newbie here and I thought it would be easier for me (first time).

So tell me what you got, how much you want and I'll go from there. Thanks!

That is a pearloid pickguard not parchment....and those pickups in there are AWESOME!! I wouldn't change a thing, you can't really get better without going to expensive 'boutique' style pickups that are like $300 for a loaded pickguard.....

I'd maybe change the pots and switch but those alnico V pickups are stellar!

 

[NewStrings]

That is a pearloid pickguard not parchment....and those pickups in there are AWESOME!! I wouldn't change a thing, you can't really get better without going to expensive 'boutique' style pickups that are like $300 for a loaded pickguard.....

I'd maybe change the pots and switch but those alnico V pickups are stellar!

You're right, it is pearloid, not parchment, my bad. I like the pickups, don't get me wrong, but I find them bright and tinny sounding ---- not quite to my taste. I guess I am more accustomed to the sound of the pickups on my Fender American Professional, they have a very clean balanced sound. I guess I just have an itch to scratch, I would love to hear what it sounded with different pickups. Most likely, I'll just keep these and tweak the settings on my amp and pedal instead!

 

[Guitarmageddon]

You're right, it is pearloid, not parchment, my bad. I like the pickups, don't get me wrong, but I find them bright and tinny sounding ---- not quite to my taste. I guess I am more accustomed to the sound of the pickups on my Fender American Professional, they have a very clean balanced sound. I guess I just have an itch to scratch, I would love to hear what it sounded with different pickups. Most likely, I'll just keep these and tweak the settings on my amp and pedal instead!

They are bright and tinny sounding because your guitar has 500k pots, and it should have 250k......

I'd try that for sure before changing pickups!

 

[NewStrings]

They are bright and tinny sounding because your guitar has 500k pots, and it should have 250k......

I'd try that for sure before changing pickups!

Great idea, thanks for that information, I was not aware of it. I love this forum, a wealth of knowledge and I learn so much. Any recommendations as to which ones I should buy? I checked Stewmac and they have a few.

 

[Eddie]

Yep ... sometimes we're always looking for the grand slam when the winning run is only a bunt away.

Swap out the pots before going new pickups. I've changed to expensive pups without changing the harness, and it barely made a difference. But once you change the harness to match the pups, it really opens the guitar's voice.

Protone pups are fantastic.

 

[AllroyPA]

you could also try lowering the pickups into the body more away from the strings, yes these guitars are a bit bright with an ash body and 500k's in there

 

[Eddie]

Great idea, thanks for that information, I was not aware of it. I love this forum, a wealth of knowledge and I learn so much. Any recommendations as to which ones I should buy? I checked Stewmac and they have a few.

Save the 500K's. You'll never know when you need them again.

CTS 250's are great. Snag them on the bay.

 

[GEECEE]

Wow!! I have a red Protone, all original and LOVE the pickups! Wouldn't think of changing them. Nice vintage sound to my ear. That said, if ya don't like it, I'd def switch out the pots first and see if that doesn't get to where you think you should be. FWIW, I experimented around with the EQ on my amp and found a big difference in settings between the Protone and a couple other Squiers. You might find the same.

 

[NewStrings]

you could also try lowering the pickups into the body more away from the strings, yes these guitars are a bit bright with an ash body and 500k's in there

I did experiment a bit with pickup height when I first got the guitar a few months ago and settled on the current set up. I think I will revisit that again and lower them a bit more and see what happens. I should also mention that it is much lower in volume that my other guitars as well, I have to crank up my Princeton one more notch to be level with the others. No big deal, and while I am adjusting the volume, I usually turn down the treble and up the bass.

 

[GEECEE]

Yep - I do the same. Have a set of Fender standard strat pickups in another Squier and it's brighter/louder than the Protone. IMO the Protone is "sweeter" the standard pickups sound more modern. If that makes sense.